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Saturday, 31 December 2016

Breeding plumage male Little Bustard in the open - NB:This never happens

There are three species of Bustard that breed in Europe and
I am glad to be able to say I have seen all three. Admittedly the Houbara
Bustard only counts if you include the Canary Islands in Europe, when in terms
of their location and endemic species they are more accurately part of North
Africa, but they belong to Spain so I am going with it. This year I have had
good views of the mainland species, Little and Great Bustard, in Portugal this
spring and again in autumn in Spain.

Wednesday, 28 December 2016

The Common or Eurasian Crane Grus grus is one of only four species of crane that is not threatened.
In fact, it is increasing in Europe, and currently has a total world population
of around 500,000 individuals. In Spain we found them at a major wintering
ground at Lake Gallocanta. This lagoon in the south west of the province of
Zaragosa is the largest staging area for migrant cranes in Europe, with perhaps
80% of the entire western European population using it on passage in both
winter and spring. Left over grain and

Friday, 23 December 2016

At first sight the unmistakeable Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio looks like a Common
Moorhen as reimagined by Disney. Although not at all closely related to any
domestic hen, they are indeed chicken sized, except for their feet which seem
designed for a bird about four times as big.

Wednesday, 21 December 2016

In the UK we only have two breeding species of eagle, Golden
Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and White Tailed Sea Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. The
rest of Europe has many more species, and this trip we managed to get good
views of three, Golden eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila (formerly Hiraeetus)
fasciatus and Booted Eagle Aquila pennatus.

Saturday, 17 December 2016

Raptors are always a draw for birders and the biggest of all
are the vultures. This trip I had good views of two species – Eurasian Griffon
Vulture Gyps fulvus which I have seen
before, and a lifer for me, the Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus. Spain has two other
species, Cinereous Vulture (the largest species – it has a wingspan as great as
a California Condor) and the Egyptian Vulture (the smallest vulture in Europe).

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Only a few years ago, news of a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus in the UK would
result in a mass of birders descending on the area. These days they are a
scarce but regular presence in wetlands, especially in England, and there has
even been at least one (unsuccessful) breeding attempt. Even in December
several are still present in the country. Further south much larger flocks can
be found in Spain and the south of France, but the bulk of the European
population is in Ukraine and Romania. Further afield this species is one of the
most widespread of the worlds’ ibises, being found from Africa to Australia.
Crossing the Atlantic around 150 years ago, in the same way as Cattle Egrets,
they established themselves in Central America and have since spread both north
and south, and have bred as far north as Canada.

Friday, 9 December 2016

One of the most instantly recognisable birds in the world is
the flamingo. Although usually associated with Africa and the Americas, there
is actually quite a reasonable population around the north shores and islands
of the Mediterranean, especially in Spain and the south of France. The species involved is the Greater Flamingo,
Phoenicopterus roseus., one of two living
species found in the Old World, along with the Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconais
minor, which is almost entirely restricted to Africa.

Friday, 2 December 2016

Although we saw several species of duck on the trip, one of
my favourites is one of the showiest of Eurasian ducks, the Red-Crested
Pochard. I have seen them many times before, but they are always a good bird to
find. Males and females are quite distinct, with only males displaying the
bright orange head that gives them their name.